Andrew Woodhead - LIGHT - A Human Centred Design approach to mental health

Think of 8 people that you know. That's the number of people that die by suicide every day in Australia. This is a statistic that needs to change and it is our duty as designers and architects of experiences to address this problem.

During this talk, I want to take the opportunity to:

Present my story to the design community on how I have battled, and continue to work hard to manage my anxiety and depression;
Explain what it feels like to deal with anxiety and depression and how I used creativity to produce a beautifully illustrated short story, offering hope and help to all my readers;
How working with a multidisciplinary team allowed me to create and craft a product that used human-centred design to create an effective, helpful and informative tool;
Present my learnings and proven strategies that anyone can try, learn and practice to improve their mental health.

Transcript

1. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . www captionslive com au | captionslive outlook com | UX A a a UX A a a 2020 - #UXA2020 Da 3 T da , 27 A g 2020 Ca i ned b : Tina Fall
2. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 78 STEVE BATY: O la e en e f da i W d . W d ' g ing be alking ab hi k a LIGHT and hei h man-cen ed de ign a ach men al heal h. W d ill j be a m men ... he e he c me . The e a e. O e , hank f c ming. ANDREW WOODHEAD: Le me ha e m c een and hen e can ge he h n he ad. H e g ha e all had a l el m ning, me e in e e ing alk he e. T da I an alk ab he c ea i n f m b k called LIGHT. I'm g ing alk ab ha in i ed me, ab m j ne in dealing i h men al ill-heal h. I'm g ing ch n he de ign ce ha e f ll ed c ea e he b k and h ef ll lea e i h hel f l i f be e managemen f n men al heal h e ha me ne ha ma be ing ha ' g ing h gh a diffic l ime igh n . I kn ha men al heal h i can be a en i i e ic f me e le, if hi alk b ing an hing f g , hen lea e d ake a b ea he and lea e he m and d ha ' e g d . I'm g ing a b gi ing a nd n f h I am and he e I c me f m. W d , b n and ai ed in Y k hi e in he n h f England. I en ni e i a L ghb gh and died c m e cience and managemen and I headed L nd n a m ca ee . I ked in a c le f IT c n l ancie and a de ign agenc . I ' he e he e I g e a a i n f h man-cen ed de ign. In 2016, I decided ick and g alkab in S dne . I feel f na e call hi ci m h me. In m fe i nal life, I'm a d c manage f a ng e n' e en a i e men al heal h gani a i n called ba . O l g i an ele han . We an alk ab he ele han in he m hich i men al heal h. We' e all ab ha ing i i e c n e a i n a nd men al heal h and m j b a he m men i b ild a digi al - elling la f m hich ill h e ie f m ng e le h ' e na iga ed
3. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 79 gh ime . The idea being he e ha he ' e gi en a ice and hen g e nmen de a men and men al heal h gani a i n and infl ence can lea n f m ng e le and deli e he e ice ha a e needed he m . I an alk ab fac and fig e linked icide and men al heal h. The ne ha ' bandied a nd i e a l i hen ne in fi e e le e e ience men al heal h a ne ime in hei life. I ' igma e en ing e le f m alking. The fig e a he b m f he lide he e e' e g f m ha e kn h gh e ea ch. In a g f 30 ng e le a lea 7 e le ill be ha ing men al heal h i e , b nl 2 ill each f , hich lea e 5 e le in ilence. I ' e ed ha 70% f e le n' eek hel and hi i la gel d e igma. In A alia, i ' e ed ha 3 milli n A alian a e li ing i h an ie and de e i n. Tha ' he f cale ha e' e dealing i h. I came ac hi e he he da . I eall j m ed a me. I l ed i . I hink I nched he ai a he ime f eading i and i a f m a g called De m nd T , a S h Af ican g and hi e a hi : "The e c me a in he e e need j lling e le f he i e . We need g eam and find h he ' e falling in." I h gh , bang n, ha ' h I'm all ab i h he k I d and i h hi b k, a ell. I j an ll back he cl ck a diffic l ime in m life hen I had i e a e i b f de e i n. The e e e m l i le ini n f i . M g and a a eall n ell back h me, he e a a l f nce ain e m i a. Q e i n ma k e m ela i n hi i h m gi lf iend a he ime and i lef me feeling all f hing . Thing n hi li . I made me feel l , d n, e ha ed and de e ed. I a j nde ing h m head a acing all he ime, h I a i ed and nm i a ed and l ima el a k m elf, ha ' he in in life? I kind f fel like he e a a da kne and he e a n' a ligh a he end f he nnel, b ha I eali ed a he ime and I a f na e en gh
4. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 80 eali e i ha I needed ac and ha I a n' al ne. I an hink ab eigh e le ha kn and ha eall ca e ab and ha l e. Tha ' he n mbe f e le ha die b icide in A alia e e da and i f hem a e men. The W ld Heal h O gani a i n e ha n a gl bal cale 800,000 e le die e ea ia icide and ha end i n he i e. I a alm me, b I feel e l ck ill be he e da and ha I eali ed a he ime a I needed fe i nal hel . I j an alk a li le bi ab m e e ience in ge ing hel and ne f m lea ning . I a ed i h a GP hen a ch l gi and hen a chia i and he ke lea ning he e a ha ch l gi a e eall f icking ha d ge an a in men i h, eall ha d and hen I called he ch l gi I a efe ed I a ld I had ai m n h . I h ned he d c back and a gi en he name f a ac ice he e he had m l i le ch l gi . The big lea ning a i ' eall hel f l ge n a ai li , n he cancella i n li . D e i being men al heal h, e le can be le gani ed and flak . I lea n m name d n f cancella i n and ha a I a f na e ge a ch l gi a in men in le han eek . I a l ck en gh be ai ed i h an ama ing ch l gi called Ta a. Ta a a gh me i a g d alk. I a eall im an a f ed cing he b den he e e ha ma feel and i a a blem ha ed i a blem hal ed and hi i he e he idea came f m f m b k. Ta a' eall g ea a lea ing me h k a he end f e e e i n. A he beginning i a he m ba ic hing. Take a big dee b ea h hen feel an i h gh , hen a e kee c ming and g ing. Then, i a , and ead hi b k. Reall hel f l b k . And hen i a ab hinking m e and m e ab i a i n and ha can d be mindf l and e en . On he i h e en h e i n n he a he aid me, I hink h ld i e a b k and I f k ha c mmen and I a like, "I
5. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 81 d n' kn ha he mean ab ha , el I can' i e a b k." An a , I h gh ha c ld I i e ab a b k? I icked m en and a e and decided i e ab m e e ience and ha hel ed me. N , an he lea ning he e a ha man e le a lne abili a a eakne and he ill d , b I eall liked ha B ene B n had a ab i : "V lne abili i he bi h lace f c ea i i , inn a i n and change." If h ld check he TED Talk called The P e f V lne abili . S e f a d he eam f m T bia and hankf ll m da ke da e e hen I a king a S dne -ba ed de ign c n l anc T bia . The an a k h e e da , me f migh ha e been al ng ha and he ha e a g ea alk ha ening m . D n' mi ha . The e e ama ingl i e and he a gh me if a e lne able hen g d hing can c me f m i . The g behind m de i e hel e le and he e e an ama ing eam. We a ed m bili ing he eam. We had a c a h h e ea che in Belinda T bia , an ill a , a de igne and hen Sim n T bia and hen chai leade . We' e j had a e i alk f m Ch i and J lie - he d ble diam nd. We f ll ed he ame f ame k - i ' a g d ne - e a ed b e l ing he blem and he jec g al hich a l ima el hel e le ggling i h an ie and de e i n and if e c ld, a e li e . We an ed ha e a i i e im ac n l cal, na i nal and e en gl bal c mm ni ie if e can. We an ed ide ac ical i and ick f an ne lea n and ac ice hel hei men al heal h. B ha e eali ed a ha ime i eci . E e ne an e e hing n , immedia el , aigh a a . S he e a blem a emen - h migh e ide e le i h me hing ick and ea c n me e ide he m al able and be ad ice and g idance? N bef e I g an f he , I an alk a li le bi ab an ie and de e i n and h i can e en i elf. I belie e m b k can hel an ne g ing
6. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 82 h gh a gh ime, b i d e n' ha e be men al heal h f c ed, hi a lie e e ne. Pe le ge an i , e le can ge de e ed and he can ge ca gh in h gh , l ad , feel ne , end g ing e and e he ame e f l h gh and a m m f hi i a lack f c ncen a i n. H can e hel ng men be e nde and echni e im e men al heal h? We a ed a ia e ing. The b k i -- ing. The b k i a g ide he e hel e le, ide hem i h he l ha e le can lea n and ac ice and hen i ' al he e gi e h e h e e le ha can' ee a ligh a he end f he nnel. S I a ed ke ching and i ing. One f he m im an hing f me a c mm nica ing i all i a c e a f h man-cen ed de ign. I all be c ea i el e e ing c m le idea and me age in a im le and effec i e a . A ic e can ell a h and d and he e i an e am le age, hich I ended ing in m G gle lide deck. N , I kn ha migh be hinking, "Yeah, eah, an he elf-hel b k, ha make i diffe en ?" The de ign la make i eall diffe en and he a he b k i c n c ed. We' e g ne headline d, a im le en ence and a eall e f l image. The b k f m a fini h can be ead in le han 5 min e and i ' e ea c n me and nde and and i ' me hing ha ' eall hel f l f h e in a da k head ace, h e ha ma ge e helmed b big ch nk b k and i ' he e f he in a g d head ace ha can lea n f m ha ' in he e. Y can ee ne f m fa i e age hich i ab h gh and i ' a ing ha h gh can be c nf n a i nal. The can be ha , he can be ad, he can be hel f l, he can be nhel f l, b f h e nhel f l and nega i e h gh i ' im an acce hem n n-j dgmen all hich i a ill I' e ied lea n e e ime and I'm ill ing lea n ab . I a f na e en gh k i h an ama ingl alen ed al ai e and a
7. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 83 nde f l de igne . We had ill a i n a eek and ended i h a al f 28 ill a i n . We ec i ed and ended inci ling iece f a e , a ing hem ge he and aking hem n he ad. We ga e hem he e e le bef e e me i h hem and in i ed hem in f a cha . We al ke men al heal h fe i nal , he GP n m j ne , he ch l gi and m chia i and i a a h gel hel f l and in igh f l ce and i led he c ea i n f he f ll ing, a men al heal h lki . I a i i ned a he back f he b k af e he and he e a a checkli in he e f hing d hel b h b d and mind and a ecial le f h ee being a lied hich ga e h ee medi a i n a , h ee lace ge hel and h ee hel f l b k m fa i e being he Ha ine T a b R ell Ha i . We in ed he b k in diffe en dimen i n and i e and e en all k i d c i n. The ne e a e a in fac and b ild a eb i e. On each age f he b k i a bi d and hi i he e he igin f he name came f m. One l nch ime I a i h Alan and l ked a him and I aid, "Can hea h e bi d inging, d n' he nd bea if l?" I ecei ed a ie , a ming n d f m him. The ne da I a lled e hi de k and he h ed me a bi d he had de igned and i h a cheek mile n hi face he aid, "Thi i a g lden finch, c mm nl f nd in h me land Y k hi e and and f h e and e i ence." In Oc be The Finch F nda i n a b n. A I c me a d he end f m alk I an alk ab m fa i e d . The fi i e ec i e and he e' al a an al e na i e e ec i e. Le ' ake COVID-19. I ' been a di a e and man man e le ha e l hei li e hich i , f c e, agic. B he e a e i i e e e c i n . I ' made l d n, a ecia e he malle hing in life, ea e ime a h me and i h he famil and ha made hink diffe en l ab h e can a ach de ign in diffe en a and i ' me hing ha Dan B n a ed in hi alk e e da . De ign i ab diffe en
8. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 84 e ec i e . The ne ne i eam k. I belie e ha can ick n eam, d n' nece a il ha e c n l f all he la e , ma be n famil , b h ld ne e feel al ne. Wh e e a e and ha e e d me ne ha hel ed ei he b eaching gi ing he ma e ial c ea e me hing and f m a men al heal h e ec i e and a b ade life e ec i e i ' ab he eam ha e can c ea e a nd el e . A eam ha can hel d ing gh ime and i ' b ild ha c mm ni and ne k a nd . And he hi d ne i b ea he, hi i he m im le ne. I ' he be a e nd an i h gh and feeling and if me ac ice and medi a i n ha ama ing e if ma e i . N , if he e' an hing ake a a f m hi e en a i n, i i hi , lea e li en . I'm g ing h a ide f m he 'Wa hing n P ' ab COVID-19. In hi ide 'll ee a da k d , hich e e en he i and i ill h h i ead and h i can b ild m men m. A l gie , a echnical i e. He e e a e! We' e g he da k d e e en ing he i and ha hen g e a nd and a nd and hen e e ne ge infec ed hich i b i l e ca and i a g d j ifica i n f he need i la e. I an ake ha inci le, h gh, and fli i . Imagine ha d i me ne kn ledgeable ab men al heal h, me ne ha kn h ha e a c n e a i n ab men al heal h, kn he e hel f l e ce a e, kn me ne g hel and me ne ha can ide hel he e i ' needed. Imagine ha ne e n a e i n he ne e n and hen he ne e n. We can c ea e a i le effec . We can c ea e a c mm ni ha ca e , hel and ha a i i e im ac . Thi ill hel g eam and find h e le e e falling in in he fi lace and ha f m ha ening. Tha ' h I belie e g can hel . I an nde elf and life. I an hink ab he e li e, he e k, h k
9. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 85 i h, he e la . Think ab he c mm ni ie and cl b bel ng and hen hink, h migh e in e e da li e hel he e le a nd ? H d e ha e c n e a i n ab h e le a e eall feeling? H can e be e nde and he challenge ha e le a e facing? H can e hen i ' needed? I in i e eflec n hi , n he In e na i nal Men al Heal h Da la e hi ea hich i 10 Oc be and h ef ll 'll hink f hi alk hen and lea e le me kn h g . I m a a h ge hank f li ening m alk and if me ne kn migh benefi f m m b k, i i m eb i e, The Finch F nda i n. If can hel me ge hi b k he e and a he c n e a i n and e ha a e li e , ha ld be a e me. If can hel i h di ib i n ai ing m ne digi ali e he b k an hing el e, lea e ge in ch i h me. STEVE BATY: Thank e m ch, W d . Thank f he k ha ' e d ing and he ha ' e j ha ed and he e nal ' e ha ed i h all. I ' e im an , hank . We ill end n ha n e and ha i i e me age. The anal g and he c m a i n COVID i an in e e ing ne and i ' h men i ning ha each f d n' ha e ead ha me age man e le f i ead idel and ickl . We j need ake ha e f ac all ha ing i i h ne e le and he diffe ence ha ha add e , e ickl i en m and i i i e li e all life-changing and i e li e all life- a ing, I ld enc age d . I'd enc age each and a k e le h he ' e d ing. I ld enc age each and alk he if a e ha ing i e i h men al heal h, a en' feeling be elf. Talk e le, alk me ne. Defini el alk me ne. Tha b ing he end f da 3. I h e ha da ha ided i h me f ame k , me l , me a f hinking